Raw is War

Pepsi Arena, Albany, New York
July 17, 2000

"Total chaos" is the only expression which can accurately describe Monday's RAW. With just six days until Fully Loaded, all the World Wrestling Federation Superstars had it turned up a notch in Albany, N.Y.!

The opening segment began with Commissioner Mick Foley making his return to the Federation, after spending last week in Southeast Asia on a promotional tour. After leading the sell-out crowd in the Pepsi Arena in a rousing chant of "USA! USA!," Mick announced that Chris Jericho would not be in attendance that night, since he was still recuperating from his injuries at the hands of Triple H. Foley then announced that Y2J's match with the Game at Fully Loaded would be a Last Man Standing Match.

The Undertaker then made his way to the ring and said he couldn't wait until Fully Loaded -- he wanted a match with Kurt Angle that night. Kane then came to the ring and ordered Foley to give his brother what he wanted, or else total anarchy would be unleashed. Angle then appeared on the TitanTron, again apologizing to the Undertaker. Much to Angle's shagrin, Foley made a tag team match pitting Kane and the Undertaker against Angle and Triple H!

That maneuver angered Triple H, who said he would rather be in a Handicap Cage Match than team with Angle, who he called an Olympic twerp! Angle denied that he was a twerp -- even telling Triple H that "your wife doesn't think I'm a twerp!"

The Rock then came to the ring to demand a match that night with Chris Benoit. That brought Benoit, Shane McMahon, Edge & Christian to the stage. Foley announced that Edge & Christian would defend their Tag Team Championship against the Acolytes at Fully Loaded, and also said that Rock, Faarooq and Bradshaw would meet Edge, Christian and Benoit later that night! The segment ended with a pumped-up Rock running to the stage to take on all four men!

As hectic as the opening segment was, it was now time for the action to begin! The Hardy Boyz took on the Dudley Boyz in the opening match. With the Hardys down, the Dudleys went to get some "wood" -- but as soon as they took out their table, Steven Richards came to the ring to take it away! That allowed Jeff Hardy enough time to recover, grab a ladder and deliver a scintillating dive to the Dudleys on the outside!

The match would end in a disqualification when Trish Stratus and T&A interfered. But the fireworks were only beginning. Trish and Lita battled into the ring, where Test and Albert set up a table and a ladder. After battling atop the ladder, Trish pushed Lita off the ladder 10 feet in the air through a table! The ravishing redhead was stretchered out of the ring.

The Godfather was preparing himself for action when Steven Richards came to the stage, this time to implore the Godfather to stop bringing the hos to the ring. Steven asked what happened to morals. The Godfather then challenged Steven to bring his conscience to the ring for a match, but Steven said he would only fight in self-defense. That sent the Godfather charging after him, and as Steven ran away, Bull Buchanan attacked the Godfather! Bull was dressed identical to Steven. As Bull and the Godfather fought in the ring, Steven again came to ringside to usher the hos back to the dressing room!

Backstage, Michael Cole interviewed Kurt Angle, asking how he felt teaming up with Triple H, a man who cost him a match with the Undertaker last week and a man whose wife he hugged last week. Angle responded by saying that it was just a friendly hug, and he then hugged Cole to prove it!

The match-up between DX and Too Cool was a fast-paced affair which featured many near-falls. In the end, Grandmaster Sexay rolled up Road Dogg for a two-count, which X-Pac turned into an X-Factor for the win.

The six-man tag match pitting Edge, Christian and Benoit against The Rock and the Acolytes was up next. Edge & Christian entitled this week's pose "The Next WWF Champion," and proceeded to point to Benoit for five seconds. The hatred between the six men was evident, as the competitors battled fast and furious. When the match spilled to the outside, Shane attacked The Rock, allowing Benoit to smack the Great One with a steel chair to the head! Benoit then nailed Faarooq with the chair, allowing Edge to score the winning fall.

After the match, The Rock snapped. He grabbed a steel chair and barged into Benoit's locker room, knocking out Shane, Edge and Christian and busting Benoit wide open. A bloody mess, Benoit and Shane then fled for their limo, but they couldn't get there in time. Rock again nailed the Wolverine with the chair, and then delivered a Rock Bottom on the hood of the limo before Shane and Benoit could escape!

Light Heavyweight Champion Dean Malenko hit the ring, offering Jacqueline and Ivory a shot at his title. But the challenge was answered by Chyna! At one point, the Ninth Wonder of the World locked Malenko in his own Texas Cloverleaf! Soon after that, Perry Saturn came to ringside and attacked Eddie Guerrero. Saturn drilled Guerrero on the steel rampway and then embraced Terri on the stage. Chyna went to check on Eddie, and was counted out.

In an interview with Kevin Kelly, Triple H warned Kurt Angle to stay out of his way in their tag team match.

Tazz's recent attacks on Federation Superstars have puzzled many fans, and on RAW, the Human Wrecking Machine hit the ring to explain his actions. He recapped his actions from previous weeks, but said he wouldn't reveal the reasons for his actions until someone beat them out of him. Commissioner Foley told Tazz that he wouldn't attack anyone at Fully Loaded, since he would be in a match as soon as Mick found a suitable opponent. That brought Al Snow to the ring. Tazz choked out Al as Mick made the match official for this Sunday.

Michael Cole caught up with Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley and asked about her relationship with Kurt Angle. Stephanie said that there was none, and that she was loyal to her husband. She predicted that Kane and the Undertaker would lose that night to Kurt and her husband.

Trish Stratus tried to interfere in the match pitting Test against Rikishi, but when Test accidentally knocked into her, Rikishi scored with a Samoan Drop for the pin. After the match, T&A and Val Venis attacked Rikishi until Too Cool came down for the save. Scotty even gave Albert the Worm on the stage! But soon after that, Val threw Scotty 10 feet off the stage! Backstage, Val revealed that he hated Rikishi because Rikishi caters to the fans, something he used to do -- before he started doing things for himself.

Before the main event, Kurt Angle entered Triple H's dressing room trying to make peace. Triple H told the Olympian that he didn't like or trust him, and just to stay out of his way. Kurt asked the Game if he wanted to shake on it or if he wanted to hug on it -- and Triple H just told him not to screw up!The night's main event was up next, pitting Triple H and Kurt Angle against Kane and the Undertaker. Throughout the match, Angle was apprehensive to get in the ring at the same time as the Undertaker. Angle finally ran from the Bad Ass. As Triple H set Kane up for a Pedigree, Chris Jericho tried to come to the ring but was restrained by referees. That distracted Triple H long enough for Kane to chokeslam him and score the win! Triple H and Jericho then brawled in the ring as RAW went off the air!